A couple basic housing setup questions

What's up,
New ball python owner and after browsing the internet and forums I still have a couple rudimentary questions on the setup of my snake habitat.

First off I was wondering about the placement of my hides. I have one that is over my heat pad and it is a little over sized for my snake. He fits in the other hide cozily, but is probably cold while he's there. I've seen him in both from time to time, so is my setup okay or should I put the smaller hide over the heat pad?
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...-19-57_774.jpg

Second, I have my speakers set up to either side of the tank (haven't used them yet) and was wondering if this was acceptable or if the sound would agitate the snake.

Thanks

Red flag. How big is your ball? They normally like 2 identical hides. That way they don't have to choose security over thermoregulating. TThe sound shouldn't bother the snake unless it rattles the cage. As for having them set up on either side of the tank, I personally would move them to another location. Welcome to the forum and the new addiction. There are a lot of people who have a vast knowledge of balls and other snakes on here. So as long as you are open to suggestion, this is a gold mine for information. Happy herping!

EDIT
I didn't see the gauges till I posted I would go with digital thermometers with probes and a digital humidity gage. They sell accurites at Walmart for 10 bucks and it is a thermometer hydrometer all in one.

And if you can, I'd get some hides with much smaller openings.

Is your heat pad being regulated by a thermostat?

Checkout this thread: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers

Thanks for all the advice definitely helps. Gonna hit up wal mart for those thermostats and also get matching hides with smaller openings.
As for his size he's between 1 and 2 ft, here's the pic of him in oversized hide:
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...-48-10_747.jpg
Way too big I know.

As for the heat pad, I'll get a thermometer for it. It's the same one I was using for my bearded dragons a few years ago.

Also, how big should the openings be in comparison with him?

The hides - and their openings - should be pretty small in relation to the snake. The snake should be able to comfortably fit inside, but it should be snug enough to "hug" him/her on all sides. Having a hide with a much lower ceiling will help too.

For reference, check out this thread on black box hides: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...lack-box-hides
Although this thread is about a specific type of hide (sold by ReptileBasics...very affordable, I might add), it shows proper sizing of hides in relation to the snakes. You'll see the openings are just large enough to allow the snake to enter/exit.

Here's another useful reference for hide sizing: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...0-Hides-my-way

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Derekawesome

Thanks for all the advice definitely helps. Gonna hit up wal mart for those thermostats and also get matching hides with smaller openings.
As for his size he's between 1 and 2 ft, here's the pic of him in oversized hide:
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...-48-10_747.jpg
Way too big I know.

As for the heat pad, I'll get a thermometer for it. It's the same one I was using for my bearded dragons a few years ago.

Also, how big should the openings be in comparison with him?

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You must have a thermoSTAT as well as a thermoMETER for your heating pad. Without a thermostat the heating pad can and will get hot enough to burn and even kill your snake.

Here is a cheap thermostat if you are on a budget: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

Here is a much better/safer thermostat but costs more: http://spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html

Stay away from the thermostats and thermometers sold in pet stores they are overpriced junk.

Once again thanks for all the help from everybody. Since i haven't set this up perfectly I'm gonna outline it and hopefully someone can tell me what I'm messing up on. My snake's eyes have begun to milk over and his skin is fading, so I want to get the setup right before he begins shedding.

just make sure i'm clear on it, I need to purchase a thermostat to measure the temp of the heat mat as well as a thermometer to measure the temp of the tank.

current temp gague is hovering around 70F so i'm thinking about using the same heat lamp I used for my bearded dragons. Also, my humidity gauge usually shows around or above 60 without misting (I do it anyway). Does this seem right?

Using coconut fiber substrate for the bedding, have it at about an inch right now I should probably put in another inch worth.

Does he need any sort of log in the cage? I would buy one from petco, but they are really overpriced and I'm on a budget right now.

last question is based on the last picture I posted, does it look like he will ever grow into that big hide?

thanks again

Edit button isn't working right, I meant to say thermostat to set temperature, not measure.

yes you need a thermostat to control the temperature of the heat mat and a thermometer to measure the temperature inside the cage.

heat mats don't change the temperature of the air in the cage so the thermometers that you have in your cage right now aren't telling you how hot the floor of the cage is.

Wait until you have a good probed thermometer and a thermostat for the heat mat before you make any further changes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Derekawesome

Once again thanks for all the help from everybody. Since i haven't set this up perfectly I'm gonna outline it and hopefully someone can tell me what I'm messing up on. My snake's eyes have begun to milk over and his skin is fading, so I want to get the setup right before he begins shedding.

just make sure i'm clear on it, I need to purchase a thermostat to measure the temp of the heat mat as well as a thermometer to measure the temp of the tank.


current temp gague is hovering around 70F so i'm thinking about using the same heat lamp I used for my bearded dragons. Also, my humidity gauge usually shows around or above 60 without misting (I do it anyway). Does this seem right?
analog gauges are crap. Invest in a digital one. You'll probably find your temperatures and humidity are WAY off
Using coconut fiber substrate for the bedding, have it at about an inch right now I should probably put in another inch worth.
an inch should be fine. I wouldn't add more

Does he need any sort of log in the cage? I would buy one from petco, but they are really overpriced and I'm on a budget right now.
logs are terrible as hides. Bps need security and a hide with only one entrance

last question is based on the last picture I posted, does it look like he will ever grow into that big hide?
if it was a female, maybe. I doubt a male would get large enough to use that
thanks again

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If you are using a heat mat your substrate layer really needs to be 1/2" thick or less, otherwise the heat mat won't be able to do its job.

He may one day fit in it. My boy uses an xl eco terra hide similar to that one and he fits. He has a large one too but he barely fits in it sometimes.

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